Convention Officials Criticize Ride-Hailing Ban

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BOSTON (AP) — Boston convention center officials are urging Massachusetts lawmakers to drop a provision from a bill that would regulate ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, arguing it would hurt the convention business.

The bill, which passed the House last month, includes a five-year ban on the companies picking up fares at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in South Boston.

James Folk, transportation director for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, says convention-goers by the thousands are accustomed to using Uber and Lyft to get to hotels or restaurants. He says convention business could suffer if ride-hailing companies are barred.

Proponents of the convention center provision say it’s needed to protect the taxi industry, which helped finance construction of the facility through the sale of medallions.